H 7705Emergency Management

Making an Appropriation of $40,000 to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) for the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact

Appropriates $40,000 to the Department of Environmental Management for the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact for wildfire mutual aid.

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Introduced Feb 11, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This joint resolution appropriates $40,000 to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) for the fiscal year 2026-2027. The funds are specifically designated to support the State's continued participation in the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact (NFFPC), ensuring Rhode Island remains prepared for severe wildfire events.

The NFFPC is a long-standing mutual aid agreement, originally established in 1949, that currently includes seven New England states, New York, and five Canadian provinces. The compact is designed to facilitate the rapid sharing of critical firefighting resources, advanced technology, and specialized training during wildfire emergencies that exceed a single jurisdiction's local capabilities. By participating in this compact, Rhode Island benefits from a highly cost-effective emergency management strategy, allowing the state to access specialized heavy equipment and trained personnel without the financial burden of maintaining them on a full-time, year-round basis.

Under the terms of the compact, when a member state requests emergency assistance, that requesting state assumes the responsibility for covering the wages, salaries, transportation, and equipment maintenance costs of the responding state's personnel. This $40,000 legislative appropriation provides the necessary funding for the DEM's Division of Forest Environment to meet these financial obligations, ensuring seamless regional cooperation and robust environmental protection against the growing threat of forest fires.

For younger readers

This bill gives $40,000 to the state's environmental department to help pay for a forest fire protection group. This group lets Rhode Island share firefighters and equipment with other states and Canada if a really big wildfire happens.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Department of Environmental Management (DEM)Rhode Island firefighters and emergency respondersRhode Island taxpayersResidents living near forested or rural areas

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

Low. This is a standard legislative appropriation of funds for an established state department and an existing interstate compact.

Estimated cost

$40,000

Estimated revenue

Not specified

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Supports environmental protection and proactive wildfire management.
Promotes regional and international cooperation for emergency response.
Ensures the state is better prepared for extreme weather events and wildfires exacerbated by climate change.
Represents a highly cost-effective way to access emergency resources without overspending on full-time equipment.
$40,000 might be seen as too small of an investment given the increasing threat of climate change and wildfires.
Does not address the root causes of climate change or forest degradation.
Funds are strictly for mutual aid rather than local environmental justice or prevention initiatives.

For Conservatives

Highly cost-effective by sharing resources rather than maintaining expensive, full-time specialized equipment.
Protects private property, timber resources, and natural landscapes from devastating fire damage.
Represents a prudent, targeted use of a very small amount of taxpayer money for essential public safety.
Leverages a long-standing, proven agreement (since 1949) rather than creating a new government program.
Increases state spending and requires an explicit appropriation of taxpayer dollars.
Relies on out-of-state or international agreements rather than building independent, localized state capacity.
Commits the state to paying the wages and maintenance of out-of-state public employees when aid is requested.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

WHEREAS, The Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact (NFFPC) was established in 1949, and acts as a mutual aid pact for wildfires exceeding local capabilities; and

WHEREAS, Currently, the NFFPC has a formal agreement among seven New England states, New York, and five Canadian provinces that provides for sharing of firefighting resources, technology, and training; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island is an active member of the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact (NFFPC) with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's Division of Forest Environment representing the State; and

WHEREAS, The compact serves to facilitate cost-sharing and resource sharing during emergencies, allowing states to access specialized resources without maintaining them full-time, however, when a state requests aid, that state is responsible for paying the wages, salaries, transportation, and maintenance of the employees and equipment from the assisting state; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of forty thousand dollars ($40,000) to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for The Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact (NFFPC); and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF JOINTRESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $40,0 TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (DEM) FOR THE NORTHEASTERN FOREST FIRE PROTECTION COMPACT *** This resolution would appropriate the sum of $40,000 to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.